New Delhi, 26 March (H.S.):

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the reported deaths of 16 people in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh allegedly due to the consumption of adulterated milk. The commission, viewing the incident as a serious violation of human rights, has issued notices to the state’s chief secretary and the director general of police and asked them to submit a detailed report within two weeks.

The NHRC has directed both officials to include information on the health condition of the deceased, the progress of the investigation, and the compensation already provided to the affected families in the report to the commission. The case is said to have unfolded in the Lalacheruvu

Chaudeswaranagar and Swaroopnagar areas of Rajamahendravaram, where residents began falling ill mysteriously in mid‑February after consuming milk supplied by a local dairy.

Media reports and official statements indicate that the milk may have been contaminated with poisonous chemicals such as ethylene glycol, a highly toxic substance commonly used in antifreeze.

This additive reportedly caused multi‑organ failure and acute kidney failure in the victims, leading to their deaths. At least four other people are still under treatment for the same poisoning symptoms.

Preliminary findings point to a dairy unit in Narasapuram village as the suspected source of the adulterated milk which was supplied to over 100 households in the cluster.

The health department and forensic agencies have conducted toxicological tests and confirmed that the victims suffered acute renal failure with elevated blood urea and serum creatinine levels characteristic of toxic exposure. Most of the affected individuals were elderly persons or young children, and the clinical picture included severe abdominal pain vomiting inability to pass urine and kidney failure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar